Connecting head for use with casks, siphons and the like receptacles containing liquid under pressure



3,194,451 SIPHONS AND THE LIQUID 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 22, 1962Inventor Z E Muff/l FL ETcl-IEZ July 13, 1965 K. FLETCHER CONNECTINGHEAD FOR USE WITH CASKS, SIPHONS AND THE LIKE RECEPTACLES CONTAININGLIQUID UNDER PRESSURE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 22, 1962 lnvenlor 3eks/wvz r [is rah/ F- 1955 K. FLETCHER 3,194,451

CONNECTING HEAD FOR USE WITH GASKS, SIPHONS AND THE LIKE RECEPTACLESCONTAINING LIQUID I UNDER PRESSURE Filed June 22, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 3July 13, 1965 K. FLETCHER 3,194,451

CONNECTING HEAD FOR USE WITH CASKS, SIPHONS AND THE LIKE RECEPTACLESCONTAINING LIQUID UNDER PRESSURE Filed June 22, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INV EN TOR. Mam Em TLE fi E/Q United States Patent 3,194,451 CQNNECTINGHEAD FOR USE WITH CASKS,

SIPHONS AND THE LlKE RECEPTACLES ION- TAINING LIQUID UNDER PRESSUREKenneth Fletcher, Dublin, Ireland, assignor to Arthur Guinness Son &Company (Dublin) Limited, Dublin, Ireland, a company of Ireland FiledJune 22, 1962, er. No. 204,539 Claims priority, application Ireland,June 26, i961, 531/ 61 11 Claims. (Cl. ZZZ-409.7)

This invention relates to a connecting head for use with casks, siphonsand the like receptacles of the type adapted to contain liquid underpressure, and more particularly to a connecting head for use with metalcasks as used in the brewing industry for containing stout or beer underthe gaseous pressure of a carbonating gas.

In casks of the type stated, the carbonating gas may conveniently becontained in a separate chamber fitted within the cask, the pressure ofthe carbonating gas being higher than the gaseous pressure to be appliedto the liquid in the cask, communication between the gas chamber and theliquid in the cask being effected through a pressure reducing valve alsolocated within the cask, the arrangement being such that as liquid isdrawn oil from the cask, the reduction of gaseous pressure in the caskresulting therefrom is augmented automatically by admission ofadditional gas from the gas chamber through the reducing valve intothet-op of the cask. Constant gaseous pressure is thereby maintained onthe liquid within the cask, and this pressure serves to discharge theliquid, as and when required, through a siphon tube extending from nearthe bottom of the cask to a valve cont-rolled outlet located in the topof the cask,

Such known casks are usually provided with three valve controlledopenings in the top thereof for effecting communication with the gaschamber, with the siphon delivery tube and with the top portion of thecask above the liquid therein. The valves controlling the openings areconveniently of the spring loaded poppet type which are maintained intheir closed position under spring pressure assisted by the gaseouspressure in the cask and are opened by the application thereto ofdownward axial pressure for charging or emptying the gas chamber or theliquid containing portion of the cask.

It is already known to provide a connector head for use with such casks,the connector head being adapted for detachable mounting in seal-proofmanner upon the top of the cask and incorporating manually operatedmeans for opening the liquid discharge valve on the cask head and/or thegas inlet valve and at the same time effecting communication betweenthese valves and passageways in the connector head, whereby the liquidcontents of the cask may be discharged as and when required, or theconnector head may be used for filling or racking of the cask with beeror sterilising the cask with steam or gas prior to refilling.

Experience has shown, however, that diificulties arise from applying thereduced gas pressure to the liquid in the cask through a reducing valvelocated within the cask, in that the liquid on occasions leaks into theseparate gas chamber and, moreover, it is difficult to sterilise the reducing valve satisfactorily when it is located within the cask and isnot directly accessible.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a connecting headfor casks of the type stated which not only permits of dispensing of theliquid contents from the cask as and when required, but whichincorporate means for effecting connection between the separate gaschamber and the top portion of the cask above its liquid contentsBldfidl Patented July 13, 15%5 through a reducing valve which is itselfincorporated in the connecting head.

To achieve this object, the connecting head is adapted to open all thethree valve controlled openings in the cask and to simultaneouslyestablish communication directly with the siphon tube delivery from thecask for discharging the contents through a passageway provided thereforin the connecting head, as well as effecting communication between theseparate gas chamber and the top portion of the cask above the liquidtherein through a reducing valve incorporated in the connecting head,

Accordingly, the present invention comprises a connecting head fordetachable mounting upon the top of casks, siphons and the likereceptacles of the type stated in which the receptacle has three valvecontrolled openings in the top thereof communicatin respectively withthe top of a liquid contained in the receptacle, with a siphon deliverydischarge for the liquid, and with a separate chamber within thereceptacle containing a gas under pressure. The connecting headcomprises a valve actuator element adapted for vertical axial downwardmovement within a casing against the action of spring means tending toreturn the actuator element to its uppermost position, two throughwaypassages formed in the actuator element terminating at their lowermostends in nozzles which, on downward movement of the actuator element,communicate with and open the valve controlled openings in the top ofthe receptacle communicating with the top of the liquid and with thesip-hon delivery discharge therefor, a pressure reducing valve carriedon the exterior of the actuator element to partake in the movementthereof and fitted with a nozzle at its inlet and adapted to communicatewith and open the valve controlled openings in the top of the receptaclecommunicating with the gas pressure chamber, manual actuating meansmounted on the casing for effecting downward axial movement of theactuator element against its return action and for maintaining theactuator element in this position, the outlet from the pressure reducingvalve being connected to the uppermost end of the actuator elementpassageway which communicates with the top of the liquid in thereceptacle, and the top of the other passageway in the actuator elementbeing adapted for flexible connection with a dispensing outlet for theliquid.

The connecting head according to the invention obviates the necessityfor providing a reducing valve connection within the cask between thegas pressure chamber and the top of the liquid containing portion of thecask. Thus, the gas pressure chamber and the liquid con-t aining portionof the cask remain unconnected and sealed off from each other duringtransport and storage of the casks and no leakage therebetween canoccur. The necessary intercommunic-ation between the gas chamber and theliquid containing portion of the cask, and the dispensing of the liquidcontents can only be eifected when the connecting head is fitted to thecask and actuated to open the valves on the cask.

It will be understood that each public house, lounge or similarestablishment to which filled casks are sup plied will be furnished witha connecting head for detachable mounting on each cask as the cask isrequired for use, the discharging passageway on the connecting headbeing connected by flexible hose to a bar counter tap for dispensing asand when required at the bar counter. Thus, the one connecting headserves for dispensing from a large number of casks separately, theconnecting head being adapted for easy mounting to and detachment fromeach cask.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the followingdescription of one embodiment thereof given by way of example only withreference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the connecting head.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the connecting head.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the line HIHI of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an underneath plan view.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view on the line VV of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a partial vertical sectional view showing the connecting headmounted on a cask.

Referring to the drawings, the connecting head comprises a valveactuator element 1 having inwardly recessed front and rear sides 2 and 3and part circular end sides 4, the actuator element being provided withthrough-way passages 5 and 6 fitted with screw-in projecting nozzles 7and 8 at their lower ends and with tubular extensions 9 and 1t) screwedinto the upper ends of the passages. The actuator element 1 is centrallyrecessed at 11 to accommodate therein a coiled spring 12 surrounding theshank of a cam bearing plate 13 located within a central circular recess14 therefor formed in a disc 15 secured to the upper surface of theactuator element 1 by screws 16 (see FIG. 5). The upper surface of thebearing plate 13 is slightly convex and projects slightly above thesurface of the disc 15.

The actuator element 1 and disc 15 are mounted for vertical axialmovement within a casing comprising upper and lower halves 17 and 18,the lower half 18 being interiorly of circular periphery to correspondwith the part circular end sides 4 of the actuator element 1 and havingfour recesses in the base thereof to receive the lower ends of four coilsprings 19 the upper ends of which bear against the lower urface of thedisc 15, the springs 19 passing upwardly within the inwardly recessedfront and rear sides 2, 3 of the actuator element 1. In this manner theactuator element 1 and disc 15 are continuously spring urged to anuppermost position within the casing, the lower half casing 18 having acut away recess 20 therein shaped to receive and guide the lowermostportion of the actuator element 1 in its axial movement.

The upper half 17 of the casing is dome shaped and is provided at itstop with a pair of lugs 21 between which a cam 22 is rotatably mountedon a pivot pin 22a, the cam 22 having a lever 23 extending therefromwhose outer end is provided with a hand actuating knob 24. The twohalves of the casing 17, 18 are secured together by screws 25 passingupwardly from beneath the lower half casing 18 through screw holestherein and engaging with tapped screw formed in the underneath surfaceof the upper casing 1'7. The upper casing 17 is provided with openings25, 27 for the passage theret'hrough of the tubular extension 9 and 1dof the passages in the actuator element.

The upper half of each circular end side of the actuator element 1 isoffset inwardly to accommodate therebetween and the circular peripheryof the lower casing 18 a sleeve 28 having an arm 29 rigidly securedthereto, said arm having at its outer end an adjustable pressurereducing valve 30 communicating with a third nozzle 31. The reducingvalve 30 is equipped with an outlet 32 and may be adapted for themounting thereon of a pressure gauge, if so desired. It will beunderstood that the mounting of the sleeve 28 on the actuator element 1ensures that the third nozzle 31 partakes in any axial movement of theactuator element 1 within the casing. The casing is provided with theopening 2% for the projection of arm 29; therethrough.

The outlet 32 from the pressure reducing valve 30 is connected by alength of suitable hose 34 to the tubular extension 15, and the tubularextension 9 is provided with a length of suitable hose 35 for connectionto a bar counter serving tap,

As shown in FIG. 6, the entire connecting head is adapted for easydetachable mounting upon the top of a cask 37 in such manner that thenozzles 7 and 8 are respectively in direct alignment with the valvecontrolled openings 38 and 39 in the cask head 40 for the siphondelivery tube 41 and the top portion of the cask above the liquidtherein, the spacing of the latter valve controlled openings beingstandard. Simultaneously the sleeve 28 is rotated to bring the thirdnozzle 31 into alignment with the valve controlled opening 43 in thecask head communicating with the gas pressure chamber 44, the spacing ofthe latteropening being also standard. The illustrated valves areconventional structures whose valve body is moved in the valve seatagainst the bias of springs bearing thereagainst to open the valve. Tofacilitate seal proof engagement of the connecting head with the cask,the bottom end of the actuator element 1 may be provided with adownwardly projecting skirt projection 35 at each end side adapted toensure correct location with the in respect of the sealing cover 45which is mounted on the cask head, a gasket 46 being interposed betweenthe cask head and the sealing cover.

The cam lever 23 is now pressed downwardly whereby the cam 22 is rotatedto exert downward pressure on the cam bearing plate 13 against thecushioning action of spring 12, and the actuator element 1 is moveddownwardly in the axial direction against the action of the springs 19whereby the three nozzles 7, 8 and 31 are projected downwardly to engageand open the three valves controlling the three openings 38, 39, 43 inthe head of the cask and establishcommunication with the passageways inthe connecting head. 7

Thus, the gas chamber 44 within the cask communicates via nozzle 31 withthe reducing valve 30, and reduced pressure therefrom is applied viaoutlet 32, hose 34 and tubular extension 10 through nozzle 8 and opening39 to the portion of the cask above the liquid therein. The siphondelivery 41 from the cask is put in direct communication with adispensing tap at the serving bar counter via opening 38 and nozzle 7,passageway 5, tubular extension 9 and hose 35.

Itwill be apparent from the shape of the cam 22 as illustrated in FIG. 5of the drawings, that the cam 22 will remain in its operative actuatorelement depressing position until the lever '23 is actuated to restorethe cam to its inoperative position again, when the actuator element 1rises again under the action of the springs '19, disengaging the nozzles7, 8 and 31 from the valves controlling the cask openings whereby thelatter close again.

It will be understood that the arrangement of the nozzles in theconnecting head may readily be modified to suit the disposition of thevalves in different makes of casks, and the manner of mounting theconnecting head in easy detachable seal proof manner to the top of thecask will also be selected to suit the disposition of the valves andtheir mounting in any particular make of cask. The invention, therefore,is not confined in its scope to the precise construction of theconnecting head shown in the accompanying drawings by Way of example.

I claim:

1. A connecting head for dispensing a liquid contained in a cask andsubjected to pressure from a gas contained in a separate chamber locatedwithin the cask, the top of the cask being provided with three valvecontrolled openings communicating respectively with the top of theliquid contained in the cask, with a siphon delivery tube extending fromthe top to the bottom of the cask, and with the separate gas chamberwithin the cask, said con necting head comprising a casing adapted fordetachable mounting upon the top of the cask, an actuator elementmovable in a downward axial direction within the casing against theaction of spring return means, two through- Way passages formed in theactuator element terminating at their lowermost ends in a pair ofnozzles, which, on downward movement of the actuator element communicatewith and open the two valve controlled openings in the caskcommunicating with the top of the liquid and with the siphon deliverytube, a pressure reducing valve carried on the exterior of the actuatorelement and fitted with a nozzle at its inlet end which, on downwardmovement of the actuator element, communicates with and opens the valvecontrolled opening in the cask communicating with the separate gaspressure chamber, connecting means between the outlet from the pres-surereducing valve and the uppermost end of the throughway passage whichcommunicates with the top of the liquid in the cask, and manualactuating means mounted on the casing for effecting the downward axialmovement of the actuator element.

2. A connecting head as claimed in claim 1, in which the casingcomprises screw assembled upper and lower halves.

3. A connecting head as claimed in claim 1 further comprising tubularextensions fitted to the uppermost ends of the two passageways formed inthe actuator element, said extensions projecting through openingsprovided therefor in the casing.

4. A connecting head as claimed in claim 3, in which the said connectingmeans comprises a tubular extension fitted to the outlet from thereducing valve and a flexible hose connecting the latter tubularextension to the uppermost end of the throughway passage whichcommunicates with the top of the liquid in the cask.

5. A connecting head as claimed in claim 1, in which the casing includesupper and lower halves connected to each other, the lower half of thecasing defining an interior circular periphery and the actuator elementbeing formed with part circular end portions which have slidingengagement with the interior circular periphery of the casing during theaxial movement of the valve body.

6. A connecting head as claimed in claim 5, in which the upper half ofeach part circular end portion of the actuator element is offsetinwardly, further comprising a sleeve interposed between the actuatorelement and the interior circular periphery of the lower half of thecasing where the actuator element is inwardly offset, and an arm rigidlysecured to said sleeve and projecting through an opening formed in thecasing, the pressure reducing valve being mounted on a free end of saidarm.

7. A connecting head as claimed in claim 6, in which the actuatorelement has an upper surface defining a central recess, furthercomprising a disc having a central circular recess and secured to theupper surface of the actuator element, a cam bearing plate having ashank mounted in the central circular recess of the disc, with the shankextending into the central recess of the upper surface of the actuatorelement, a coiled spring mounted in said central recess andsur-rounding'the cam bearing plate shank, and a cam engaging the cambearing plate.

8. A connecting head as claimed in claim 7, further comprising aplurality of coiled springs each having one VII d end located in arecess therefor formed in a base of the casing, and extending upwardlyto bear against the lower surface of the disc for urging the actuatorelement to its uppermost position.

9. A connecting head as claimed in claim 8, in which the upper half ofthe casing is dome shaped and is provided at its top with a pair of lugsbetween which the cam is rotatably mounted for engagement with the cambearing plate to move the actuator element downwardly and maintain theactuator element in this position, said cam having a lever rigidlysecured thereto for its manual actuation.

10. A connecting head for a cask and like receptacle which comprises:

(a) a casing adapted to be releasably mounted on said receptacle;

(b) an actuator element mounted in said valve casing for movement towardand away from an operative position adjacent said receptacle when saidcasing is mounted on said receptacle;

(c) a first, a second, and a third nozzle, said nozzles being mounted onsaid actuator element and facing toward said receptacle in the directionof movement of said actuator element toward said operative positionthereof;

(d) a conduit means between said first and second nozzles and a pressurereducing valve in said conduit means;

(e) a conduit communicating with said third nozzle and extending outwardof said casing;

(f) yieldably resilient means on said casing permanently urging saidactuator element to move away from said operative position thereof; and

(g) manually operable actuating means on said casing for actuating saidmovement of said actuator element toward said operative position againstthe restraint of said resilient means.

11. A connecting head as set forth in claim 10,,wherein said actuatingmeans include means for locking said head in said operative positionthereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 587,987 8/97Mills 222400.7 597,292 1/98 Linder et al l37609 X 1,840,968 l/32 Millerl37609 X 2,504,009 4/50 De Phillips et al. 222-400.7 X 2,741,262 4/56Crookston l37-6l3 X FOREIGN PATENTS 103 ,116 5/99 Germany.

EVERETT W. KIRBY, Primary Examiner.

LOUIS J. DEMBO, MPHAEL M. LUPO, Examiners.

1. A CONNECTING HEAD FOR DISPENSING A LIQUID CONTAINED IN A CASK ANDSUBJECTED TO PRESSURE FROM AW GAS CONTAINED IN A SEPARATE CHAMBERLOCATED WITHIN THE CASK, THE TOP OF THE CASK BEING PROVIDED WITH THREEVALVE CONTROLLED OPENINGS COMMUNICATING RESPECTIVELY WITH THE TOP OF THELIQUID CONTAINED IN THE CASK, WITH A SIPHON DELIVERY TUBE EXTENDING FROMTHE TOP TO THE BOTTOM OF THE CASK, AND WITH THE SEPARATE GAS CHAMBERWITHIN THE CASK, SAID CONNECTING HEAD COMPRISING A CASING ADAPTED FORDETACHABLE MOUNTING UPON THE TOP OF THE CASK, AN ACTUATOR ELEMENTMOVABLE IN A DOWNWARD AXIAL DIRECTION WITHIN THE CASING AGAINST THEACTION OF SPRING RETURN MEANS, TWO THROUGHWAY PASSAGES FORMED IN THEACTUATOR ELEMENT TERMINATING AT THEIR LOWERMOST ENDS IN A PAIR OFNOZZLES, WHICH, ON DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OF THE ACTUATOR ELEMENT COMMUNICATEWITH AND OPEN THE TWO VALVE CONTROLLED OPENINGS IN THE CASKCOMMUNICATING WITH THE TOP OF THE LIQUID AND WITH THE SIPHON DELIVERYTUBE, A PRESSURE REDUCING VALVE CARRIED ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE ACTUATORELEMENT AND FITTED WITH A NOZZLE AT ITS INLET END WHICH, ON DOWNWARDMOVEMENT OF T HE ACTUATOR ELEMENT, COMMUNICATES WITH AND OPENS THE VALVECONTROLLED OPENING IN THE CASK COMMIUNICATING WITH THE SEPARATE GASPRESSURE CHAMBER, CONNECTING MEANS BETWEEN THE OUTLET FROM THE PRESSUREREDUCING VALVE AND THE UPPERMOST END OF THE THROUGHWAY PASSAGE WHICHCOMMUNICATES WITH THE TOP OF THE LIQUID IN THE CASK, AND MANUALACTUATING MEANS MOUNTED ON THE CASING FOR EFFECTING THE DOWNWARD AXIALMOVEMENT OF THE ACTUATOR ELEMENT.